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‘New drugs have shown that advanced prostate cancer can be turned into a chronic disease, with men having good quality of life for months or even years. They are able to work and reach the milestones in life that matter to them.

‘I’m outraged by this perverse decision. This would not happen in breast cancer.’

Enzalutamide, a new type of hormone treatment, was assessed in 1,199 patients with advanced prostate cancer who had previously received chemotherapy. Their survival rates were significantly extended, with almost half having a better quality of life as a result.

Around 10,500 British men have advanced prostate cancer that is resistant to standard hormone treatments

Enzalutamide, which is a pill taken at home, costs around £25,000 for an average course of treatment. But manufacturer Astellas Pharma has reduced the price through a patient scheme that makes it cost-effective, according to Nice.

Owen Sharp, chief executive at the charity Prostate Cancer UK, criticised Nice. ‘Adding this restriction to their draft decision, without any explanation, leaves hundreds of men, who have few treatments anyway, with no hope of accessing enzalutamide,’ he said.

‘Nice is playing fast and loose with men with prostate cancer in the advanced stages of the disease who may become resistant to other treatments, and what’s worse, without saying why.

‘We will fight this decision, but it will not help the men who could be benefiting during this delay. We hope Nice follow the decision made in Scotland, and allow clinicians to make the decisions about what drugs are best for patients.’

Professor Jonathan Waxman, a leading prostate cancer specialist, said Nice was an organisation ‘not fit for purpose’ that persists in using a faulty system for rationing drugs that disadvantages patients in England.

‘It continues to evaluate drugs using calculations that do not reflect reality and exaggerate the cost,’ he said. ‘These nonsensical decisions are made on behalf of patients but conflict with what specialists consider is best for them.’

He accused Nice of creating a postcode lottery. ‘This iniquitous guidance means men in England will be treated differently from Scotland,’ said Professor Waxman.

Professor Carole Longson, director of Nice’s Centre for Health Technology Evaluation, said: ‘There are few treatments available for patients at this stage of prostate cancer so we are very pleased that we are able to produce draft guidance recommending enzalutamide.’